Telegram-herald., 1887-11-17
The GLASS INDUSTRY.
The Finest Ware Still Msde1n Europes
Countries

The Finest Ware Still Msdein European
Countries.
Glassware can be regarded both as a neces-
sity and luxury. the latter from the beauty
of the material composing the article and the
artistic work bestowed upon IL The impress
sion prevails 10 a considerable extent that ex-
pensive glassware, like expensive porcelain,
viii not break so readily as the cheaper
grades. but this is a delusion. There is no real
motive for the purchase OF the expensive arti-
Gle except the qualification Of a taste for lux
ury. The United States possesses all the
natural advantages that are possessed by the
European countries for the manufacture OF
glass, and in the use of natural gas it has one
important factor not possessed abroad The
cleanliness of glass and the chcapness and the
ease with which it is managed certainly give
to the glass manufacturers OF Pittsburg and
that vicinity an advantage not possessed in
Europe. On the other hand Europe has its
exceedingly cheap labor, it has the talent Of
families devoted to the artistic production Of
glass for generations, and it has its art schools
greater in number aad superior in teaching 10
those of the United States.
For these reasons Europe is a long way
ahead Of the United States in ingenuity Of de-
signs, shapes, patterns and decoration. Glass
from the earliest historic ages has been q
favorite medium for the expression Of beauty.
The fluid character Of the original substance
permits it TO be nodded 10 an infinite variety
Of forms, and the most delicate shades OF col
oring may be infused through its crystal clear
ness as To adapt 1t 10 the luxurious uses OF
ths table. The highest development OF art is
Ia the production OF cameo glass
AN ANCIENT ART.
Evidences of this art in IT'S perfection are
very ancient, and even in the beginning OF
.he Christian era very beautiful and expensive
articles of glass were in use. At that time
glass in its common forms was a cheap article
AT so Il. {. n cup and saucer OF glass could
De bought al Rome for money equivalent TO
| ,ur cent. Illustrating the other extreme, it
historically narrated that the Emperor Nero
paid sum equivalent TO $250,OO0 for two
cups Of moderate dimensions. Window glass
| lid not appear until about the Third century
| Of the Christian era, and 1t aid not come into
| general use until the Fifteenth century In
| l66l only the principal chambers Of the kings
palace in England had window glass.
| Egypt offers the earliest positive evidences
| f glassmaking. Glass bottles containing red
wines said TO be represented on the monu-
nents OF the fourth dynasty, more than 4 900
fears ago, and in the tombs of q very early
period the process Of glassblowing is repre-
ented in An unmistakable manner In the
| lime OF the Roman Emperor Hadrian, among
| .he chief industrial occupations Of the inhabi-
| ants Of Alexandria is mentioned glassblow-
| nz; and during the reign OF Aurelian, in the
! Third century, glass formed part Of the
! Egyptian tribute, showing it was then an
article OF manufacture in Egypt The deli
ate coloTing Of glass, that adds 50 much 10 It's
| Deauty, was known in ancient times These
| soioIs are produces hy a mixture with metals:
| Tor instance, blue il produced by cobalt,
| green by copper, and rose OF ruby By gold.
| Inc great site Of the manufacture Of glass in
he rziddie ages was Venice, and it's articles
~ msBufsciurs we're exported all over the
sorld The as trade Il Venice has been
superseded by thst of Eng and ard Germany.
THE rHINCIPAL ISGREDfESTs.
Silicon of which there Is - per cent. in
good glass sand. i tae principal ingredient
p gas. Lead enters into the superior ouali-
zss Of glass. giving it tciearnsss ami brHuaucv,
sni the musical ring of q sisss article only
/ ,ones from bad glass Crystsl glass Is bad
slass. which IS $50 termed flint giass. Only
cad glass can be cut Lime j. Bor greatly
ase3 IN tie manufacture o. gas. prcssei
/ Eiaz arsieies bring r.saae n i'fns gisss IN is
, nsusfacturs the JEife3 States has an al
/ vautsEs ever other countries. On account ~
"a "a lsuts foT tee zee q raachsnsTy Whils
he eastern pagt ~ tsis country ~ss formerly
5he seat o. The principal gas industry. 81 has
r9oved vest 81 iats years. owing largely ~
TIE back ~ rf1ess - ths eastern Ho1aafsctur-
w. - take up tas making o. Gzse GAS Sc
Josis Is How 81 irzpcf-sat gisss usnnfsctsr-
ing csErre. bss tae grssssst amount r b8si
1sss IS done in THE Oa4o vssy of ~trh
T.f's7urg and '{ sesl.sg srs tse ctief F.sss
towns Tee nataFsi eas Il lhls ssclien her
z~en t8s css Industry Freat issps.Gs
Heavy plsts vin6er cs2 is u1suafsetarsc
II EsiT tse veef 1uf fbe gas ussa in tos
= s. mrs imported from France
TIE 5rt gisss i11aef~r - tIs c5gzfIr hg
re- C~eatT of receat vesrs bat tss srti
g. S r7s res sr1orts5 to fse srt tsst fnst
pei rass g. I5s hsf exSo ta1ierls =
eas fr3n ttis coultrr sre - Ere sorta
auer-sa see s-s, as s-ieraals Eoas r. tae
r poegrefs1s In krefrs - Ths coarfry
= -r5atlar~fT abe - s~pate VIA sDT -
a ss- co1 ssr rs - Esf-oe ~ stsrnesd hsas
zlsss Efess - tzs -isz IA scns-sstc uee is -
So na2-~S~~ koxx GssaEasr1.-4 A
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